Raising A Natural Baby

Having a baby is one of the most wonderful experiences in your life. It creates change in your life and one of the most significant changes might be the large amount of things that a baby truly needs to be safe, warm and feed. Having a baby can send you into a buying frenzy with the need for furniture, clothing, toys, and diapers. It may seem like you need everything if you listen to all the hype but its just a small baby so don't go overboard! Being conservative can be a challenge but can also be the very thing that makes your baby the healthiest. You can save money with many natural options and have your baby getting the best of everything. Raising a natural baby is easier than you think if you consider some of the following ideas. .

Clothe Diapers

One of main reasons cloth diapering appeals to families is for economic reasons. There is no doubt that cloth diapering can save you money. But how much can it save you?

Most families using disposable diapers spend upwards of $10 (plus tax) per week on disposable diapers and wipes. Using an average of 2 1/2 years in diapers, that is a minimum of $1300 spent on disposable diapers. Cloth diapering families can spend anywhere from $300 for a simple prefolds & covers system, to $1200 for a deluxe pocket or AIO (all-in-one) system. As you can see, even the more expensive systems are less expensive in the long run.

Keep in mind that with disposables, this cost is the same for each child in the family. For cloth, the cost of diapering the first baby will bring some savings, but the real savings come with diapering the second child, and any others that follow after that! Other than the cost of laundry detergent and nominal water and electricity charges, diapering these children is essentially free.

In addition, the second-hand market for used diapers is surprisingly active. Especially for pockets and AIOs, many parents can expect to recoup at least 50%, and sometimes closer to 75% of their initial investment

What about the environmental cost? The numbers here are staggering. For a family with a 2-3 day wash routine, one diaper will be used roughly 3 times per week. That's 156 times in one year! Compare that to the approximately 3,000 disposable diapers that a baby will use up in one year (that number is direct from the new Pampers Ad). Add to that the many other disposable baby products that are available on the market today, such as wipes, swim diapers, bibs and more, and the number of items we put in the landfills each year that are baby-related are simply staggering! It's estimated that the average baby will go through between 6,000 and 9,000 diaper changes from birth to potty training.

Feeding Your Baby

Not only is breastfeeding usually the perfect food for baby it is also the most planet friendly way to feed your baby. By simply breastfeeding your baby you eliminate the need for formula cans and baby bottles. Breastfeeding is waste free! If however you need to pump milk and bottle feed there are green options there too. Glass baby bottles are reusable and able to be recycled or donated unlike their plastic counterparts which are prone to breakage and do not biodegrade. Helpful products for mom such as wool or cloth breast pads and organic creams are also available.

When your baby is old enough to eat solids you can continue to feed “green” by making your own baby food from organic fruits and vegetable that you are already eating. There is no need to buy boxes of baby cereal or tiny jars of baby food when you can mash or puree family foods and feed them those. They can be frozen inside ice cube trays for later use and convenience.